Detachable Finishing Blade For A Loading Bucket

ABSTRACT

A detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket comprising: a front finishing plate positioned below a bottom edge of the loading bucket, where the front finishing plate includes a connection edge at a top portion and a finishing edge along a bottom portion; a pair of side plates attached to the lateral portions of the connection edge of the front finishing plate, where the pair of side plates include a top edge, a bottom edge, an inner edge and an outer edge; one or more attachment means to secure the front finishing plate to the pair of side plates; and a pair of angle irons to fasten the pair of side plates to the lateral edges of the loading bucket, where when the detachable finishing blade is fastened to the loading bucket the front finishing plate engages the ground to level and flatten the ground surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an attachment for a loading bucket typically attached to earthmoving machinery, where the attachment enables the user to level and smooth the ground surface without requiring a secondary piece of machinery or worker to level the ground.

2. Description of Related Art

Construction and agricultural equipment are earthmoving pieces of machinery commonly used to transform a portion of land. Often attached to the front of the equipment is a loading bucket attached on hydraulic arms to pierce the ground and carry a load of dirt or debris. One of the most commonly used pieces of equipment is an excavator. Excavators are typically heavy construction machines used to dig, demolish and mine the ground and then carry heavy materials from the dig site to a dumping location. The excavators usually have a loading bucket attached to a long, extending arm where the loading bucket is used to snag, rip and tear the ground with a set of teeth attached to the end of the bucket. The teeth simplify demolition by providing a jagged edge to the end of the bucket, rather than a smooth edge that cannot tear into the ground as easily.

Typically, after an area of land has been excavated a secondary piece of equipment or laborer must be used to level the ground. Gathering the second machine is often time consuming and cumbersome for the worker. Therefore, it would be beneficial in the art to provide an excavator bucket or similar heavy construction bucket with a finishing attachment. It would also be beneficial in the art for the finishing attachment to be removable so that the single excavator can easily switch between digging and finishing at will of the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a detachable finishing blade, configured to include all of the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a loading bucket of an earthmoving machine where the attachment enables the bucket to change from a demolition tool into a finishing tool when needed by the operator.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket is described comprising: a front finishing plate positioned below a bottom edge of the loading bucket, where the front finishing plate includes a connection edge at a top portion and a finishing edge along a bottom portion; a pair of side plates attached to the lateral portions of the connection edge of the front finishing plate, where the pair of side plates include a top edge, a bottom edge, an inner edge and an outer edge; one or more attachment means to secure the front finishing plate to the pair of side plates; and a pair of angle irons to fasten the pair of side plates to the lateral edges of the loading bucket, where when the detachable finishing blade is fastened to the loading bucket the front finishing plate engages the ground to level and flatten the ground surface.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a detachable finishing blade in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a detachable finishing blade in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a set of gussets in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a detachable finishing blade in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a detachable finishing blade and loading bucket in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to an attachment for a loading bucket typically attached to earthmoving machinery, where the attachment enables the user to level and smooth the ground surface without requiring a secondary piece of machinery or worker to level the ground. The present invention provides a detachable finishing blade to attach to a loading bucket whereby the detachable finishing blade enables the loading bucket to function similar to a ground razing tool. The detachable finishing blade detachably fastens a front plate with a pair of side plates around the peripheral edges of a loading bucket. The front finishing plate levels the ground surface as the loading bucket sweeps the ground. With the detachable finishing blade the user is able to quickly and easily level their land, eliminating the need for a secondary laborer or piece of machinery.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a detachable finishing blade (100) is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The detachable finishing blade (100) attaches to a loading bucket of an earthmoving machine like an excavator, tractor, bulldozer or similar vehicle commonly used to in the art with a loading bucket. The size and dimensions of the detachable finishing blade (100) may be adjusted to fit around loading buckets of varying size. Finally, the detachable finishing blade (100) may be made from a high quality, heavy equipment steel to withstand the tough environment of construction and agricultural work.

The detachable finishing blade (100) includes a pair of side plates (102), one on each side of the detachable finishing blade (100). The side plates (102) are comprised of a top edge (104), a bottom edge (106), an inner edge (108) and an outer edge (110). The inner edge (108) of the side plate (102) fastens against the lateral edges of the loading bucket. The bottom edge (106) may be wider than the top edge (104) causing the outer edge (110) to slope at an angle from the top edge (104) to the bottom edge (106). The dimensions of the side plate (102) may be: 16 inches for the inner edge (108), 4 inches for the top edge (104) and 6 inches for the bottom edge (106). As previously noted, the dimensions may be changed and adjusted to accommodate loading buckets of various sizes.

Comprising the bottommost portion of the detachable finishing blade (100) is a front finishing plate (112). Along a top portion of the front finishing plate (112) is a connection edge (114). The connection edge (114) attaches the front finishing plate (112) to the bottom edge (106) of the side plate (102). The side plates (102) are connected to the outermost portions of the front finishing plate (112), along the lateral ends of the connection edge (114). The front finishing plate (112) is positioned in front of a plurality of teeth normally extending from the front of the loading bucket. The front finishing plate (112) sweeps along the ground during use to level, flatten and essentially finish the ground surface after demolition or excavation.

The front finishing plate (112) may comprise a generally rectangular shape wherein the connection edge (114) is the same length as a bottom finishing edge (116) (as shown). Alternatively, the connection edge (114) may be narrower than the finishing edge (116) to enable the finishing edge (116) to reach a wider surface while engaged with the ground. The dimensions of the finishing plate (112) may be 12 inches high by 3 feet 6 inches wide, and adjusted accordingly to fit different sizes of loading buckets.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the detachable finishing blade (100) is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the parts of the detachable finishing blade (100) as individual pieces detached from each other for better understanding of their configuration and attachment. The side plates (102) may be attached to the lateral edges of the loading bucket with a pair of angle irons (120). The angle irons (120) are essentially L-shaped, elongated bars that securely fasten the side plate (102) and loading bucket together.

A second finishing plate (130) or back finishing plate is attached behind the front finishing plate (112). The second finishing plate (130) assists the front finishing plate (112) when leveling and smoothing the ground. The dimensions of the second finishing plate (130) may be 10 inches high by 26 inches wide, and adjusted accordingly for different loading bucket sizes.

Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a set of gussets is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The set of gussets fasten the front finishing plate (112) and the second finishing plate (130) to the side plates (102). A pair of front plate gussets (140) secures the side plates (102) to the front finishing plate (112). A set of back plate gussets (142) secure the back finishing plate (130) to a backside of the side plates (102). The set of back plate gussets (142) may include two or more gussets to securely fasten the back finishing plate (130). The gussets (140, 142) may be triangular (as shown), rectangular or another commonly used shape as know and recognized in the art.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of a detachable finishing blade (200) is shown in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The alternative embodiment of the detachable finishing blade (200) is similar to the first embodiment, including a pair of side plates (202), a front plate (214) and a back plate (not shown). The front finishing plate (214) includes a connection edge (216) and a finishing edge (218). The side plate (202) is composed of a top edge (204), a bottom edge (206), an inner edge (208) and an outer edge (210). In addition, an angled outer edge (212) is positioned above the outer edge (210), between the outer edge (210) and the top edge (204).

The second embodiment of the detachable finishing blade (200) may be generally larger than the first embodiment. The dimensions of the detachable finishing blade (200) may be 44¾ inches wide by 36 inches tall. Specifically, the top edge (204) may be 2 inches, the inner edges (208) may be 24 inches, the bottom edge (206) may be 6 inches, the height of the front finishing plate (214) may be 12 inches. As noted above, the dimensions may be changed to accommodate the various sizes of the loading buckets.

Finally, referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the detachable finishing blade (100) and the loading bucket (150) is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The detachable finishing blade (100) is illustrated with the side plates (102) attached to the lateral edges (152) of the loading bucket (150), and the front finishing plate (112) attached to the bottom edge (154) of the loading bucket (150). As seen, the front finishing plate (112) engages the ground to level and flatten the ground surface. The detachable finishing blade (100) may be removably attached to the loading bucket (150), so that after the loading bucket (150) is used for its purposes of digging and excavating, the detachable finishing blade (100) is attached to complete the job. By utilizing an earthmoving machine, with the detachable finishing blade (100) attached to the loading bucket (150) the user is able to quickly and easily level the ground, without having to rely on a secondary worker or machine to finish the job.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket comprising: a front finishing plate positioned below a bottom edge of the loading bucket, where the front finishing plate includes a connection edge at a top portion and a finishing edge along a bottom portion; a pair of side plates attached to the lateral portions of the connection edge of the front finishing plate, where the pair of side plates include a top edge, a bottom edge, an inner edge and an outer edge; one or more attachment means to secure the front finishing plate to the pair of side plates; and a pair of angle irons to fasten the pair of side plates to the lateral edges of the loading bucket, where when the detachable finishing blade is fastened to the loading bucket the front finishing plate engages the ground to level and flatten the ground surface.
 2. The detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket according claim 1, wherein the detachable finishing blade includes a second finishing plate positioned behind the front finishing plate.
 3. The detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket according to claim 1, wherein the one or more attachment means are gussets.
 4. The detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket according to claim 1, wherein the pair of side plates further include an angled outer edge between the top edge and the outer edge.
 5. The detachable finishing blade for a loading bucket according to claim 1, wherein the front finishing plate covers a set of teeth along the bottom edge of the loading bucket. 